Simply put, the environments of SSX contain the best-looking snow ever seen in a game. It glistens and gleans in sunlight, and the powder effects make nearly every impact against the snow rewarding. Blending exaggerated features and realism into the characters was a good move as well.

With this better blend of character models, it is easier for players to sit back and enjoy the over-the-top absurdity of the tricks. The simplistic controls make this all possible. Utilizing either the right stick (as later games in the series did) or the face buttons (as many refer to as the classic controls), you won't feel encumbered by the control scheme. This setup allows players of differing skill levels to actually be able to compete with one another. In fact, even my six-year-old son could come close to beating my own scores at times.

Of course, EA has never shied away from making a good soundtrack. This one comes across as near perfect. It just feels like any of these songs could be playing on an actual snowboarder's iPod while they are coasting down the mountainside. While the music selection is great, the voice acting is hit-and-miss. There's nothing too horrible here, but some of the characters can come off as extremely annoying at times. The snide and crass remarks, however, I extremely enjoy, and want more of them; they help SSX remain fun even when your frustration has been pushed to the limit.

SSX has so many great things wrapped into it that I could hardly be happier. Aside from the way the Deadly Descents "storyline" plays out and the occasional character getting stuck between two rocks, SSX brings back the joy of playing all hours of the night trying to outdo your previous score. In this case, though, it'll be trying to outdo the scores of the last fifty players who bested you in Global Events. If you've ever played any of the SSX games, this is the game you have been waiting to play for a long time. If you are a fan of SSX Tricky, all I can say is that the wait is finally over for a true replacement.

ControlVarying the control scheme for new and old fans provide solid execution pay offs.

4.7

Music / Sound FX / Voice ActingSomeone did their work and delivered one of the best soundtracks for a game in a long time.

4.7

Play ValueI used to stay up late playing SSX Tricky, and this one has already taken many more nights from me.

4.6

Overall Rating - Must BuyNot an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend

0.1 - 1.9 = Avoid

2.5 - 2.9 = Average

3.5 - 3.9 = Good

4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy

2.0 - 2.4 = Poor

3.0 - 3.4 = Fair

4.0 - 4.4 = Great

5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

Conquer the Planet's Mountains - From Antarctica to Africa and the Himalayas to the Alps, players will drop into nine of the most iconic mountains ranges and regions on planet earth. Using NASA topographical data and our proprietary Mountain Man tool, each of these iconic mountain ranges have then been exaggerated to deliver a gameplay experience that is true to SSX.

Advanced Physics - Harnessing the power of the current generation of consoles, SSX introduces a revolutionary physics engine that will allow players to ride and trick off almost anything in the environment, unrestricted by invisible walls and barriers.

Characters Old and New - Favorite characters, as selected by the fans, make their return to SSX along with some new faces that will be joining the franchise. Characters include: Elise, Mac, Kaori, Psymon, Moby, Zoe, Griff, Ty, Tane and Alex.